A MAN OF VISION — FRANKLIN’S TOM GODSELL As the history of a city is written there are certain individuals who are usually recognized as being responsible for major changes in that city. One of those men was Tom Godsell — often called the “Founding Father of Franklin”. Serving as Town Chairman from 1949 to
Stories
From Crops to Stone: The Story of The Franklin Quarry
It was 1940 and a man named James Buckley was watching a culvert being built on Rawson Avenue when he noticed a lot of rocks close to the surface of the land. He then decided to buy several hundred acres of land in the area in speculation of finding a valuable quarry. By 1941 he
Remembering Franklin’s Only Wooden Silo
It was the only wooden silo on a Franklin farm and for years it was recognized as a landmark because of its unusual construction. It was stamped with the dates 1903 and 1914 and made of wood that went horizontally around the outside while the wood on the inside was constructed vertically. It was also
The Buckhorn Tavern – A Long and Colorful History
For Sale — 1.24 acres — Commercial Property. The realty sign at the northwest corner of Hwy. 100 (Ryan Rd.) and 27th St. is another reminder of changes for the old Buckhorn Tavern in Franklin. Facing an uncertain future, the business is one of two buildings on the corner that remain of what was known
Coming to the Rescue – A History of the Franklin Fire Department
In the early years of Franklin, the village of St. Martins was the site of a volunteer Fire Department House located at the intersection of Church St. and St. Martins Rd. Later the fire house was moved to St. Martins Square (Market Square) and then back again to St. Martins Rd. Little has been recorded
Businesses of St Martins
Businesses of St Martins THE EARLY BUSINESSES OF ST. MARTINS A windmill, a brewery, a general store, and a farm implement dealer —these were some of the early businesses of Franklin. Located in St. Martins, they provided products and services for the rural population of the area. Even though all four of these no longer
Pioneer Cemeteries – Reminders of The Past
Pioneer Cemeteries – Reminders of The Past When presenting the history of the Franklin area, the final resting places of its earliest settlers are sometimes overlooked. Often people pass by these cemeteries and are unaware of their existence or that these grave markers tell a story about the immigrant families that chose to settle in
SACRED HEART SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
SACRED HEART SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY The Sacred Heart School of Theology, located on Hwy. 100 near Rawson Avenue, was originally known as the Sacred Heart Monastery and as a seminary for the training of men into the priesthood. It was originally built across the street from the present buildings. The original building was built in
When Ice Cutting Was Winter Work
PHOTO: This is an old photo of the ice house that stood in St. Martins until 2008. It was used as an ice house from 1850-1935. If this was the early 20th century it would be that time of the year when ice harvesting on the lakes, ponds and rivers would be occurring. In the “good
From Crops to Stone: The Story of The Franklin Quarry
It was 1940 and a man named James Buckley was watching a culvert being built on Rawson Avenue when he noticed a lot of rocks close to the surface of the land. He then decided to buy several hundred acres of land in the area in speculation of finding a valuable quarry. By 1941 he